Chapter 1
3:00 AM
The buzz of my phone jolted me awake.]]
The girl upstairs had posted another thirst trap in our Facebook group.[]
She wore sheer lingerie that barely covered anything. Her hands were bound across her chest with a tie, posed seductively for the camera.[]
I instinctively looked away, about to exit the app when-
My heart dropped.[]
That tie.
It was identical to the one I’d personally knotted around my husband’s neck this morning. A deep navy Hermès.[]
The photo vanished seconds later.
But I was wide awake now.
Thunder crashed outside. Rain pounded against the windows. Then sounds drifted down from upstairs–her soft, breathy moans.
“Slower… oh…”
Laced with pain, but dripping with pleasure.[]
I could hear everything, even through their running shower. The bathroom echo made it impossible to ignore.]]
The rhythmic slapping continued. A man, pounding into her hard.[]
Her voice dissolved into breathless, gasping sobs.
Just listening made my ears burn.
“Baby… don’t clench so tight,” a deep, husky voice growled.
That voice.
My pulse hammered.[]
I opened David’s chat.
He’d messaged two hours ago:
[Overtime’s killing me. Miss you.]]]
[You asleep already?]]]
[Good night.]]]
I wanted to believe him.
- s.
But that tie, and the moaning upstairs, wouldn’t leave my head.[]
I called him.
He picked up instantly.
“Claire?”
His voice was rough and tender, sending tingles down my spine.]
3AM Betterval with THE NECHTY
Chap 1
“The thunder woke me. Just wanted to hear your voice, “[]
“Let’s stay on then. You sleep, I’ll keep working.“[]
His end was silent. Peacefully, reassuringly silent.[]
Not wanting to disturb his work, I reminded him to take care and hung up.
The second I ended the call, the girl upstairs cried out again–louder, wilder.[]
My heart lurched.[]
-0
The Next Morning]
I woke early and padded to the kitchen.[]
There stood David–the man who was supposed to be sleeping at his office.
I froze.
“How are you here?”
He leaned casually against the counter.
“Didn’t want you driving alone. Came back.“]
“Made you pancakes too.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist from behind. He turned and kissed me like it was the most natural thing in the world.[]
I went rigid.
When he tilted his head, I saw it–just below his collar.
A faint red mark.[]
He kept kissing me while my mind raced.]
Soon he noticed something was off.[]
“Babe? You look like shit.“[]
Concern flickered across his face.
The words tumbled out: “The girl upstairs was moaning all night. It was so… loud.“]]
David raised an eyebrow and squeezed my ass.]
“Well tonight, when I fuck you, you better scream louder.“[]
I forced a smile. “Did you see that selfie she posted on Facebook last night?“]
He rolled his eyes.
“Don’t turn into one of those girls.”
He released me and flipped the pancakes.
Sunlight streamed through the window, making his smile look soft and warm.]
For a moment, doubting him felt stupid.
Chapter 1
Waiting for the Elevator]
Seeing the dark circles under his eyes, guilt twisted in my stomach:
“You don’t have to keep driving back. I’m fine now–my leg’s healed. If you’re tired, just crash at the office.“]
The elevator dinged at our floor.
David turned and quickly kissed my earlobe:
“I know. But I want us to commute together.“]
My ears burned.
It felt like high school all over again.
When we were eighteen, he used to pretend to tie his shoes outside my house just to “accidentally walk me to school.
After I called him out, he blushed hard and mumbled:[]
just want to walk you to school.“]
just
We stepped into the elevator. The girl from upstairs was already inside.[]
She wore an oversized hoodie and fuzzy socks, eyes glued to her phone. Gone was last night’s sultry vixen.]]
First floor. She brushed past us to exit.
As she passed, something in her hair caught the light.]
I looked closer.
Clipped in her golden hair was a beautiful silver accessory.
—0
Outside My Office
David leaned over for a goodbye kiss.
I closed my eyes, placing my hand against his tie.
Suddenly, something flashed through my mind.[]
Everything clicked into focus.
That wasn’t a hair clip.
It was David’s silver tie clip–the one he’d lost months ago.]]
(0)
